The following PhD project is available in the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh, UK. Please note the deadline for applications is Monday 30th March 2026.

Inequalities in outdoor and indoor air pollution in the UK and implications for health equalities (email ruth.doherty@ed.ac.uk ). Supervisors:  Prof Ruth Doherty (ruth.doherty@ed.ac.uk), Prof Jamie Pearce (jamie.pearce@ed.ac.uk), Prof Mark Miller (mark.miller@ed.ac.uk) (U. Edinburgh), Dr James Milner (LSHTM), Dr Massimo Vieno (UKCEH)

Air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀; particles with diameters of 2.5 or 10 micrometres) have relatively short lifetimes in the atmosphere. As a result, their concentrations vary sharply across space, with the highest levels typically found close to emission sources such as road traffic. This creates unequal exposure to air pollution, with people living near traffic and industrial sources facing much higher levels than those in suburban or rural areas, contributing to greater health inequalities among already disadvantaged groups.

This project will use detailed measurements and high-resolution chemistry transport modelling to examine social inequalities in outdoor and indoor air pollution exposure in the UK and across the UK, and how these differences contribute to health inequalities across a range of health outcomes. See: https://geosciences.ed.ac.uk/study/degrees/research-degrees/phd-projects/physical-sciences?item=1857

Project Highlights:

• Learn methods and perform statistical and epidemiological analyses using air pollution, socio-economic and health datasets.
• Use a state-of-the-art chemistry transport model used in UK national air quality assessments to simulate atmospheric composition.
• Gain knowledge of fundamental atmospheric chemical species, processes, and their toxicity.
• Analyse detailed atmospheric measurement data from UK “supersites” and gain experience with laboratory-based toxicity methods.
• Use new indoor air pollution measurements currently being collected to examine inequalities in indoor air pollution exposure.
• Be part of the large UKRI-funded interdisciplinary hub “INHABIT” exploring the health co-benefits of Net Zero for the indoor environment through collaboration across 10 UK universities.

You will also join a large interdisciplinary, vibrant research network in the School of GeoSciences. You will be equipped with the science expertise to address core environmental health problems and climate action in your future career.

Please see: https://study.ed.ac.uk/programmes/postgraduate-research/95-atmospheric-and-environmental-sciences for eligibility and how to apply, and contact the named supervisors at the email addresses listed above for enquiries.